2017 U.S. Peak Fall Foliage Prediction Map: Plan Now for Your Best Landscape Photos of the Year

The team at SmokyMountains.com is back again this year with their updated prediction map for timing the peak fall foliage colors in the United States. Using this interactive map, photographers can easily find out the best time to take a trip out to the woods and capture the most vibrant and colorful images of the season.

How is the map created? SmokyMountains.com pours through the data points of NOAA historical temperatures, NOAA historical precipitation, NOAA forecast temperatures, NOAA forecast precipitation, historical leaf peak trends, and peak observation trends. The data is then placed in an algorithm that outputs around 50,000 predictive data points which can than be used to forecast on a county-by-county level across the United States.

Data Scientist Wes Melton, working with SmokyMountains.com, has good news for U.S.-based photographers: “Other than the Pacific Northwest, we are expecting warmer-than-average fall temperatures during the during the September through November time period. These warmer temperatures are expected to prolong the color season.”

The interactive map shows predicted weekly changes from August 13 through October 29. Next Sunday, September 10, the map gets its first taste of “near peak” colors, so plan and make travel reservations now.

Ryan Mense is a professional photographer and Fstoppers editor based in the Twin Cities. His images are characterized by vibrant colors and uncomplicated, meaningful compositions that strongly translate in publication and fine art printing.

Alongside gear reviews and news, Ryan heads selection for the Fstoppers Photo of the Day.

Actually, it is predictable but not with 100% certainty and, of course, you're right about unforeseen circumstances. As Ryan pointed out, it's better than nothing. I would love to live in a perfect area for it and just wait.

From their website:
"The 2017 Fall Foliage Map is the ultimate visual planning guide to the annual progressive changing of the leaves. While no tool can be 100% accurate, this tool is meant to help travelers better time their trips to have the best opportunity of catching peak color each year."

I agree current status maps are best but sometimes you have to make plans too far in advance for that to be helpful.

So where was that? I'd always heard Vermont, New Hampshire, etc.. but I'm sure there are a lot of great places, few people have heard about. I'm thinking about going to middle or upper Michigan. I've heard it's just as good as New England but without the crowds.

Pretty much anywhere on the eastern side of the lower 48 country north of Florida. You can also see less dramatic fall colors throughout much of the western half of the country, and very nice examples in many of its cities that are well landscaped.